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That comes after the club’s disastrous move to the London Stadium which has seen them endure the worst possible start to life in their new home.

Crowd violence, teething problems, unhappy atmospheres and even staff from another club being attacked in the stadium has made it a disaster. Upton Park has been traded for a white elephant of a stadium bereft of any soul and built for athletics rather than football.

This, after all, was supposed to be the platform to allow West Ham to push on from being just another London club with a rich history into being a major player in the Premier League.

West Ham find themselves languishing in 13th, far too close to the relegation zone for comfort and they have failed to build on Bilic’s first season in charge.

West Ham have been dismal this season in comparison to last term, when they challenged for a top four spot (Image: James Griffiths)

But perhaps the biggest mistake was not to cash in on Payet last summer as ultimately that might have been less painful than the ugly saga which now threatens to overshadow their whole season.

At least then they could have got a big price rather than be held to ransom by Marseille who know they have West Ham by the short and curlies.

Payet was the glamorous star, the fans invented a chant for him and he seemed to have realised his huge potential under Bilic.

His free kicks, spectacular goals and then starring role in the Euros made him one of the Premier League’s biggest attractions.

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It was clear to a lot of people around him that Payet wanted to leave last summer, wanted to join a bigger club on the back of his brilliant performances for France and yet West Ham refused to do business.

West Ham’s start to the season was a disaster and, in fairness to Payet, he was good in the dressing room, trying to lift the team rather than sulk.

But as West Ham sunk further down the table and it was obvious this season was becoming a write-off, Payet allowed his head first to drop and then be turned by Marseille’s interest.

Payet’s growing discontent saw his own performances dip, West Ham were also stuck in a rut with their fans unhappy with the football, increasingly resentful about the stadium and now their hero wants out as well.

Slaven Bilic looked dishevelled as he revealed Payet's desire to quit the Hammers (Image: West Ham United FC via Getty)

Bilic always privately had doubts about the stadium and whether the team could adjust to playing on a pitch with an athletics track around it.

But he admits now this is perhaps his biggest challenge in management to turn around the club’s season which is threatening to implode after Payet’s bombshell.

Bilic said: “I was asked this question four or five weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong, I would rather be up there fighting with Chelsea but on the other hand I was thinking to myself, also including this situation now, that this is an unbelievably great challenge for me personally.

“I feel so strongly, I don’t like it but I want that challenge, I want to try to sort it out. It’s not enjoyable but when you have such a big challenge in front of you it motivates you even more and it gets the best out of you. That’s how I feel now.”